GB2452470A

GB2452470A - A ski with a device to control airflow

Info

Publication number: GB2452470A
Application number: GB0619660A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael A Mudoy
Original assignee: U W O A A Co Ltd
Current assignee: U W O A A Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-10-05
Filing date: 2006-10-05
Publication date: 2009-03-11
Also published as: GB0619660D0

Abstract

A ski is provided having a front end 21, which curves upwards, and a rear tail end 22. The front end has an aperture 24 with a circular single blade 10 mounted in the aperture for rotation about a horizontal axis 5A, 5B. The blade on either side of the axle is curved in opposite directions. In use airflow created by forward movement of the ski causes the blade to rotate. A vertical stabiliser (23 fig 3) may also be provided at the rear of the ski.

Description

Title: Ski with a performance-enhancing device.

The present invention relates to a ski with a perfbnnance-enhancing device.

The uwention seeks to enhance both the dynamic performance and the technical capability of skis such as alpine skis.

According to the present invention there is provided a ski with a performance-enhancing device comprising: a) a ski having a front end which curves upwards and a rear tail end, said ski front end having a ski aperture therein, and b) a substantially cireular single blade mounted in said front end aperture for rotation about a horizontal axis, said blade either side of said axis being curved in opposite directions, in use airflow created by forward movement of the ski causing said blade to rotate.

Preferably a blade aperture is provided in the centre of the blade through which air flows as said blade rotates.

Preferably a frame with a circular frame aperture is mounted in said ski aperture, said blade being mounted for rotation in said frame aperture supported by said frame.

Preferably the frame has an inner frame annular member supporting said blade, and said inner annular member rotates inside and relative to an outer member connected to the ski aperture.

Preferably orientation means are provided to allow said inner member to support the blade for rotation about a horizontal axis as said outer member rotates when said ski is rotated during use of the ski. Prefbmbly the orientation means are provided by said inner member being weighted.

Preferably bearings are provided between said inner and outer member to allow said inner member to rotate relative to the outer member.

Preferably a one-way movement device is provided to allow rotation of the blade only in one direction. The one-way movement device may be a ratchet.

Preferably a tapered nozzle is provided adjacent the ski aperture, said nozzle tapering towatfs the rear tail end of the ski.

Preferably a vertical stabiliser is provided above the tail end of the ski.

The invention also extends to a pair of substantially identical skis as defined above.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with refrence to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures IA and lB show a front and cross section view of the blade and fixne, Figure 2 shows a view of the blade and frame on a ski front end and a nozzle, and Figure 3 shows a view of a vertical stabiliser on a ski tail end.

Referring to Figures 1 A and 1 B there is shown a circular frame 1 having an outer annular member 2 with a circumferential flange 2A. An inner annular member 3 is provided which rotates inside and relative to outer member 2. An array of ball bearings 4 allow the inner member to rotate relative to the outer member with veiy low friction.

Inner member 3 supports a single circular blade 10 for rotation about a horizontal rotational axis defined by support pins 5A, 5B. Inner member 3 is weighted by having an arc 3A formed of heavier material so that outer member 2 can rotate relative to inner member 3 whilst inner member 3 maintains pins 5A, 5B horizontal Blade 10 has a blade aperture Ilin its centre. Blade 10 either side of its axis defined by pins SA, 5B is curved in opposite directions. A one-way movement device such as a ratchet 6 is provided to allow rotation of the blade 10 only in one direction (see arrow in Figure IB).

As shown in Figure 2, a ski 20 is provided having a front end 21, which curves upwards. As shown in Figure 3 ski 20 also a rear tail end 22 with a vertical stabiliser in the form of a vane 23.

Vane 23 may be of any suitable shape and may shaped difibrently to that shown.

The ski front end has a ski aperture 24 therein. Frame I is secured into the aperture whereby blade 10 can rotate in the aperture with the flange 2A abutting against the ski front end on the rearward side of the ski front end. A tapered nozzle 25 is provided adjacent the ski aperture 24, with nozzle 25 tapering towards the rear tail end 22 of the ski.

The ski 20 operates as ibilows.

As the ski accelerates, e.g. when on a skier going down a slope, the airflow over the ski acts on the blade 10 which reacts by rotating in the ski aperture 24. The ratchet 6 ensures the blade rotates in one direction. The ciivular single curved blade 10 when rotating forward "scoops" air and then it "drops" the "scooped" air into the aperture of the blade 10 and hence mixing both the "scooped" air flow with the free stream air flow passing through aperture 11. The rotating blade makes use of the kinetic energy of the ski to accelerate the amount of airflow passing through the ski with the device and permitting increased terminal velocities compared to traditional ski designs. As a result of the rotating blade making use of the kinetic energy to accelerate working fluid, the exit velocity of the airflow passing through the ski and device is always greater than the fire stream velocity.

The ski with the device requires a reasonable amount of Imear motion for the ski with the device to perform effectively. The speed of rotation of the blade is proportional to the liner motion of the ski. The higher velocity of the ski with the device the better the ski with the device performs until aerodynamic losses become a dominant factor, since air resistance is the inevitable and incremental friction that occurs betwen air and the front end of the ski moving through it.

The blade 10, when rotating, produces a moment and generates a centripetal force which contributes, along with the ability of the inner and outer member to rotate relative to each other, to an improvement in lums and jumps compared to traditional ski designs.

The device can be made of heat resistant material, e.g. metal or ceramics.

The ski with the device also benefits both from the tapered nozzle 25 to enhance exit airflow velocity and the vertical stabiliser vane 23 to increase the stability of the front end of the ski.

As the ski rotates during use, so the orientation means such weighted inner ring always allows the blade to rotate about a horizontal axis.

It is envisaged that alpine skis used for racing would benefit most from the invention.

It will be appreciated that the size of the blade and frame will be proportional to the size of the front end of a given ski.

The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

I. A ski with a performance-enhancing device comprising: a) a ski having a fitnt end which curves upwards and a rear tail end, said ski front end having a ski aperture therein, and b) a substantially circular single blade mourned in said front end aperture for rotation about a horizontal axis, said blade either side of said axis being curved in opposite directions, in use airflow created by forward movement of the ski causing said blade to rotate.
2. A ski according to claim I, wherein a blade aperture is provided in the centre of the blade through which air flows as said blade rotates.
3. A ski according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a frame with a circular frame aperture is mounted in said ski aperture, said blade being mounted tbr rotation in said fime aperture supported by said frame.
4. A ski according to claim 3, wherein the flame has an inner frame annular member supporting said blade, and said inner annular member rotates inside and relative to an outer member connected to the ski aperture.
5. A ski according to claim 4, wherein orientation means is provided to allow said inner member to support the blade for rotation about a horizontal axis as said outer member rotates when said ski is rotated during use of the ski.
6. A ski according to claim 5, wherein the orientation means is provided by said inner member being weighted.
7. A ski according to claim S or 6, wherein bearings are provided between said inner and outer member to allow said inner member to rotate relative to the outer member.
8. A ski according to any preceding claim, wherein a one-way movement device is provided to allow rotation of the blade only in one direction.
9. A ski according to claimS, wherein the one-way movement device is a ratchet.
10. A ski according to any preceding claim, wherein a tapered nozzle is provided adjacent the ski aperture, said nozzle tapering towards the rear tail end of the ski.
11. A ski according to any preceding claim, wherein a vertical stabiliser is provided above the tail end of the ski.
12. A ski substantially as hereinbelbie described with reference to and as showTI in the accompanying drawings.